Livingston celebrates aerial delights with festival

The 2nd annual “Time to Fly” kite festival will be held April 14 at Livingston Middle School.

If Livingston residents see a giant octopus, a purple dragon, or a flying turtle in the sky on April 14, they shouldn’t be alarmed. It won’t be the strangest invasion from outer space. It will be the 2nd annual “Time to Fly” kite festival.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14, the Livingston skyline will be filled with a bevy of kites as enthusiasts and novices alike gather at Livingston Middle School for the festival, which is sponsored by the City of Livingston and the Knights of Columbus.

The kite festival is free to the public and will have plenty of family-friendly activities. The festivities will include gigantic kite flying demonstrations from Brian Champie, George Halpin and Mike North; a candy drop, a pie eating contest, face painting, bounce houses and food and craft vendors.

Attendees will have the opportunity to enter kite flying and building competitions and win a variety of prizes. There will also be kite making workshops and the first 500 kids get a free kite.

Event organizers have also scheduled safety demonstrations from the Livingston police and fire departments, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department, and Pacific Gas and Electric. The event will kick-off with the landing of the California Highway Patrol helicopter.

Livingston Middle School is located at 101 F Street in Livingston.

For more information about the festival visit www.livingstonkitefestival.com.